Indiana would likely have lost some federal funding if the 2020 Census had been more accurate.

When the pandemic struck the U.S. around spring break of 2020, it set off an exodus in college towns as classrooms went virtual almost overnight. The sudden departure of tens of thousands of students made it difficult to count them in the census, which began at almost the same time.

More than half of Indiana's counties lost population during the last decade, according to U.S. Census figures released Thursday showing the state’s growth around Indianapolis and its other largest cities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's housing unit completion rate, 99.9 percent of Indiana residents have filled out the census, 70 percent of those responded online, by phone or by mail.

The U.S. Census Bureau will stop counting at the end of September, a month earlier than planned.

Indiana has a higher response rate on the Census than the country as a whole, according to the latest Census data.

The U.S. Census Bureau is required by federal statute to send the president the counts that will be used to carve up congressional districts and draw state legislative districts by Dec. 31. Some groups are suggesting that the deadline be pushed back.

The upcoming census has sparked some concerns about the security of vulnerable populations, including immigrants.

Indianapolis leaders want every resident counted in the 2020 census, and a project called Count Me Indy showcases local artists' work to promote it. WFYI's Taylor Bennett spoke to one of the selected artists Aaron Scamihorn and Count Me Indy's campaign manager Callie Kennington.

Beyond helping decide how legislative districts are drawn, the population count influences urban planning, rural development and federal funding.